Success! Wesley from Kenya raised $1,097 to fund spinal surgery.

Wesley had a successful surgery to repair the spinal opening on his lower back. This has minimized the risks of developing an infection or other complications.

“We are immensely grateful for the support you have rendered towards my son’s treatment. We do appreciate,” says Wesley’s mother.

Wesley had a successful surgery to repair the spinal opening on his lower back. This has minimized the risks of developing an infection or o...

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April 11, 2018

Wesley is a baby from Kenya. He lives with his elder brother and parents in a one-room rental house in the Nairobi suburbs. His father, the family’s sole breadwinner, is training to be a mechanic.

Wesley was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Wesley is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Wesley’s spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 12. This procedure will hopefully spare Wesley from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory.

“I long for the once happy family we had. We hope this gets behind us soon,” shares Wesly’s father.

Wesley is a baby from Kenya. He lives with his elder brother and parents in a one-room rental house in the Nairobi suburbs. His father, the ...

Wesley received treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The patient has a mass or lesion on the back that leaks cerebral spinal fluid, which puts him or her at risk of infection.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Spina bifida can cause incontinence, bladder and kidney damage, and paralysis and numbness in the lower limbs, bladder, and sphincter. It can also lead to hydrocephalus as a result of disturbance to the fluid in the brain. Hydrocephalus can lead to cognitive dysfunction, blindness, and death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Spina bifida is more common in developing countries due to improper and inadequate nutrition. Foods containing folic acid are scarce, and food is not fortified. In Kenya, however, the Ministry of Health has recently started a program to give expectant mothers folic acid for free at government facilities.

Process

Impact on patient's life

Risks and side-effects

Accessibility

Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

After surgery, the patient's hospital stay ranges from two days to three weeks. The length of stay depends on the healing rate of the wound and will be extended if the patient also undergoes a shunt insertion to treat hydrocephalus. However, shunt insertions are usually performed about one month after this surgery.
The patient is continually monitored. If the wound heals and the patient is in a neurologically stable condition, the surgery is considered successful.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

Surgery performed within the first days of a child’s life prevents infection and saves the spine and brain from further damage. Early surgery also minimizes the risk of paralysis. Later treatment may save the child's life and prevent further damage.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This surgery is moderately risky, and complications depend on the severity of the case.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition. With about one neurosurgeon per 10,000,000 people in East Africa, initial treatment for spina bifida is often unavailable.